Qld snake catcher warns bird owners to choose right cages

Bird owners have been warned to triple check the cages they keep their pets in after two budgies were eaten by a snake in Queensland. Queensland-based Snake Catcher Dan posted on social media about the sorry state of affairs in Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast and said it was a common occurrence. “Lots of people make the mistake of thinking these straight bar birdcages are snake proof,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, this customer had to find out the hard way when she lost two of her budgies to a hungry coastal carpet python in Pelican Waters. “Snakes can squeeze through gaps roughly 1/3 the width of their body. “So you’ve really got to use that 6mm-6mm mesh if you want to keep snakes out.” The comment section was filled with condolences and similar stories from others, including one woman who said her brother “woke up one morning to find his budgie missing and replaced with a carpet python”. One of Victoria’s most prominent snake catchers, Mark Pelley, was bitten last week by a highly venomous tiger snake. After a routine job went horribly wrong, Mr Pelley was left fighting for life. In a horrifying turn of events, his equipment broke during the capture and the snake was able to turn its head and latch on to his hand. The incident was the first “proper bite” Mr Pelley had received in his 14 years as a snake catcher. He was rushed to the ICU after the incident; however, he has now been moved out of the ward and is standing on his own.